Hirohata Merc

The Hirohata Merc is a 1950s custom car, "the most famous custom of the classic era".[1][2] Setting a style and an attitude, it had a "momentous effect" on custom car builders,[3] appeared in several magazines at the time[4] and has reappeared numerous times since, earning an honorable mention on Rod & Custom '​s "Twenty Best of All Time" list in 1991.[4] The impact may be measured by the fact that, after more than fifty years and numerous owners, it is still known as "the Hirohata Merc".[5]

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Constructed in 1953 for Bob Hirohata,[6][7] it was designed and built by George and Sam Barris, assisted by Frank Sonzogni.[8][9] It started out as a 1951 Club Coupe.[10][11]Nosed, decked, and shaved, the top was chopped four inches in front and seven inches in back,[12] and the vertical B-pillar was reshaped so that it curved forward.[8] The rear window had its posts removed, and was raked steeply forward, requiring a new roof piece to be fabricated.[8] Side trim was replaced with that from a 1952 Buick (the spears),[8] augmented by grille teeth from a 1952 Chevrolet (three per side)[8] and functional scoops. The front wheels are fitted with traditional sombrero ('47-'51 Cadillac) hubcaps.[8]

Skirts were added, fitting flush.[8] Three '51 Ford grills were used to custom-fabricate one, and the bumper was fitted with dagmars.[13]

Barris used a vee-butted windshield,[10] a very common customizers' trick in that era, rather than a one-piece windshield, which was available on the '53 Merc. He added Appleton spotlights,[8][14]frenched the headlights (which were fitted with '52 Ford rings),[8] and added '52 Lincoln Capri taillights.[15] The exhaust pipes were routed out through the rear bumper, beneath the taillights,[8] and a pair of radio antennae were frenched into the rear quarter panels.[8]

The Hirohata Merc was painted in two shades of green, a total of thirty coats,[8] which were applied by Junior Conway.[16] The interior was upholstered with tuck-and-rolled naugahyde. The dash, seats, and headliner were white with dark green inserts, matching the exterior lower body color (below the Buick spears).[8]

In 1955, the Merc made an appearance in the film Running Wild, for which it was painted gold over the original ice green.[18]

Hirohata sold the Merc,[8] and the car changed hands several times. It was eventually purchased by Jim McNiel, who used it as a daily driver for years, then placed it into storage.[8] Ultimately, McNiel restored the Merc to her original configuration.[8] The restoration was done by Hershel "Junior" Conway at Junior's House of Color.